For Immediate Release Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Contact: Annalyse Keller, 202-224-0355 ​ What They Are Saying: Senate Passes Gardner’s Great American Outdoors Act Historic conservation legislation fully funds the LWCF, addresses maintenance backlog on federal lands Washington, D.C. – Last week the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, ​ introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), which fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addresses the approximately $20 billion maintenance backlog on federal public lands. This historic vote earned praise from leading conservation groups in Colorado and across the country. What conservation leaders are saying: “This common-sense legislation is long overdue to help our national parks and other public lands meet the burgeoning demand of increased numbers of hikers, anglers, campers, and wildlife watchers who have been flocking to Colorado’s outdoor spaces in recent years. As recent polling has shown, Westerners deeply value their public lands and want to ensure they are restored and conserved for their children and grandchildren to enjoy," said Suzanne O’Neill, Executive Director of the Colorado ​ Wildlife Federation. “This is a historic deal reflecting the broad, bipartisan support for our public lands. The Great American Outdoors Act will be one of the biggest conservation victories in generations, solidifying our investments in this country’s outdoor economy and putting an end to the constant raiding of resources intended for LWCF. We applaud our congressional champions and the administration for finding common ground and working together to ensure future generations will have access to close-to-home recreation,” said Tom ​ Cors, Director of Government Relations for Lands at The Nature Conservancy. “We are heartened to see this bill at such a pivotal time for our planet. Fully and permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund and caring for America’s National Parks and public lands are two sides of the same coin. LWCF protects public lands and makes them accessible, while restoring our parks makes sure those places are safe and enjoyable. Addressing these important issues together makes sense, has bipartisan support, and will go a long way toward ensuring that one of America’s greatest legacies—our public lands and waters—are kept healthy and thriving for all to enjoy. This would be an enormous conservation victory for our nation, finally fulfilling the promise of LWCF after 54 years and doing the right thing for future generations,” said Sally Jewell, Board Member of the Nature ​ Conservancy, Secretary of the Interior (2013-2017). “Today the Senate delivered a historic win for the conservation of America’s natural landscapes,” said ​ Jennifer Morris, Chief Executive Officer at The Nature Conservancy. “This bill would make major ​ investments in the landscapes and landmarks vital to our economic, emotional and societal well-being. By protecting important natural spaces and investing in their care, this bill will help create jobs, rebuild local economies and expand access to the outdoors that everyone has a right to enjoy.” “Senate passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is a remarkable achievement in advancing historic bipartisan legislation for our national parks. The National Park Foundation thanks Senator Gardner for his unwavering support of incredible places like Rocky Mountain National Park, and for his commitment to the future of our parks through his leadership on this bill. GAOA will ensure that national parks receive the funding required to address deferred maintenance needs, remain accessible to all Americans, and continue to serve as economic engines for local communities in Colorado and across the country,” said Will Shafroth, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. ​ “This is a momentous day for conservation in the United States. The Senate’s passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, which fully funds the LWCF and addresses the maintenance backlog on our public lands, is a huge step to enhance our public lands and rekindle and grow local outdoor recreation economies. We applaud Senators Gardner, Bennet, Manchin, Burr and all of the bipartisan leaders in the U.S. Senate for championing this critical conservation program,” said Larry Selzer, President and CEO ​ of The Conservation Fund. “Pew thanks Sens. Gardner and Manchin for their work with congressional leadership to pass the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act. Senate passage is a critical step to restoring our national parks and protecting recreation access on our public lands. It will also create jobs in communities that depend on these places for their economic stability, especially during these times when many Americans are renewing their connection to the great outdoors. We encourage the House to pass this landmark legislation quickly and send it to the president for his signature,” said Marcia Argust, Project Director of ​ the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Restore America’s Parks Campaign. “The Great American Outdoors Act is smart conservation. Senate passage of this historic and bipartisan bill will improve our natural resources and enhance access for America's hunters and anglers. It also makes lasting investments in our outdoor recreation economy at a time when we need to get Americans back to work. We want to thank Senator Gardner and Senator Manchin for working across the aisle to get this legislation passed,” said Whit Fosburgh, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt ​ Conservation Partnership. “The Great American Outdoors Act not only creates permanent certainty for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, America's most successful conservation and access program; it also ensures sound stewardship of our public lands and waters. We applaud Senator Gardner's leadership and urge Congress to advance this legislation to President Trump without delay. Hunters, anglers and all outdoor recreation-loving Americans need to get outside – to reconnect with our traditions, find solace in nature and restore our spirits. The Great American Outdoors Act couldn't come at a better time, and its investments in local communities and our conservation legacy will yield immeasurable dividends,” said ​ John Gale, Conservation Director of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. "Our National Parks and public lands are part of our heritage as Americans. By protecting and investing in them, we will ensure that generations to come will benefit from America's best idea. The American Conservation Coalition is proud to support the Great American Outdoors Act because it will protect this heritage and support the hundreds of thousands of Americans whose livelihoods are connected to our National Parks. Our members on over 200 campuses across the country thank Senator Gardner for his leadership and urge Congress to pass this historic piece of legislation," said Benji Backer, President ​ and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition. “The outdoor industry applauds the U.S. Senate for seizing the opportunity to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark piece of bipartisan legislation. Along with the social and health benefits that being outdoors provides, there is also a strong economic case for doing this now. The outdoors are bipartisan, and investing in LWCF means investing in local economies and creating thousands of jobs – both of which we desperately need right now to help the country bounce back from COVID-19,” said Lise ​ Aangeenbrug, Executive Director of the Outdoor Industry Association. "The Great American Outdoors Act would be a historic step and have both an immediate and lasting impact. Not only would this legislation help restore our public lands and waters for generations to enjoy; completing maintenance and improvement projects in the outdoors could help put thousands of people to work and create more spaces for Americans to get outside and recreate safely. Thank you to Sen. Gardner and the many champions of this legislation. The Corps community stands ready to help our federal, state, and local resource management agencies address the maintenance backlog and advance our country's priorities in the great outdoors," said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The ​ Corps Network. “As Americans across the country emerge from stay at home orders, there is an intense desire to get back to our cherished national lands. The Great American Outdoors Act offers innovative solutions and sustainable funding that will address the deferred maintenance backlog and ensure the safety and enjoyment for Americans today and decades to come. Campgrounds on federal lands are currently showing distressing signs of wear: crumbling roads and bridges; deferred maintenance needs; and limited camping availability, jeopardizing not only the RV industry but the entire outdoor recreation industry. We are grateful to the leadership of Senator Gardner to address the needs of our public lands and support outdoor recreation," said Jay Landers, Vice President of the RV Industry Association. ​ “We are very thankful to Senators Cory Gardner, Steve Daines, Michael Bennet, Joe Manchin and others for their efforts to get the Great American Outdoors Act passed. Having access to outdoor recreation, including riding trails for dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides, is immensely beneficial for the physical and mental well- being of Americans — especially in these times. As public lands reopen, we need to have responsible planning and adequate infrastructure,